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It's not often for an England player gets labeled as whinging down under, but when Joe Root was questioned about the necessity for pink-ball cricket in a series like the Ashes, he offered a straightforward response.

“From my perspective, it's not necessary,” Root replied prior to England's net session in Brisbane. “Clearly very successful and popular in this country, and Australia boast a strong track record in these matches. You can understand why we’re playing.

“In the end, you know well in advance it will happen. It’s part of preparing for the series. In a contest of this magnitude, does it need it? I don’t think so … yet it doesn't imply it has no place. I'm fine with it. In my opinion it matches traditional Test cricket. But it's on the calendar. We’ve got to play it, and must ensure we outperform than Australia at it.”

Root's Record Under Lights Takes a Dip

Similar to his opposite number, Steve Smith, Root's usually stellar numbers take a hit with the pink ball. The England star has played all seven England's pink-ball matches to date, and although a hundred in his first outing versus the Windies back in 2017, his career average above 50 drops to just over 38 under lights.

Conversely, paceman Mitchell Starc holds an average near 29 and a strike rate around 50 in general, but those numbers improve to 17.08 and 33.3 correspondingly in day-night Tests. During his most recent pink-ball appearance, in Jamaica, he claimed six for nine as the opposition were bowled out for a meager 27—his best performance that he bettered with seven wickets for 58 in Perth.

Key Battle Root vs Starc Could Shape Series

The matchup between Root and Starc is shaping up to be a potential deciding factors in this series. While Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood usually caused him issues, in their absence in the first Test, it was Starc who dismissed him for zero and eight.

Root later reasoned the initial wicket was just a good ball—the kind that may not reach the slips in England. The second, bowled chopping on, amid the team's slump, was a miscalculation by him. “I know I’m a good player,” he said. “I know I’m going to return to form.”

The Touring Side's Hurdles and Readiness

Starc has adopted the wobble seam as his main tactic these days—he noted he wished he'd heeded to Hazlewood and Cummins suggestions earlier—and in humid Brisbane, swing could be available. England, down one match, have more to overcome in this Test, and runs from their premier batter would help in recovering from their own mistakes.

It might not need a hundred should there be rapid shootout unfolds, but Root’s lack of a ton on Australian soil remains a talking point. “I didn’t have long enough to dwell on it,” was his humble reply when asked if the stat bothered him in Perth.

Squad Decisions and Historic Opportunity

Root and his teammates practiced hard on Sunday, with hip-hop providing the backdrop on a hot afternoon. Monday and Wednesday are crucial for England’s preparations, held under lights.

Mark Wood’s absence due to a knee issue opens up a spot in the team, with Jacks practicing among the batsmen suggests he might be the frontrunner. His off-breaks are decent, and extra runs at number eight could balance any bowling leaks.

That said, seamer Tongue has been with the Lions in Canberra and is still in the mix should England choose an all-pace attack, while off-spinner Shoaib Bashir was included previously. Much to think about, indeed, at a ground where the visitors have not won a Test for decades.

“It is a chance to make history,” Root said on this fact. “It would make it even more satisfying if we win here.”